The struggle to have the herbicide glyphosate banned, in the face of strong industry resistance, has taken yet another twist, with store managers in the UK asked to withdraw a product claimed to be harmful to customers, and EU authorities accused of (at best) sloppy procedures.
Sustain member Farms not Factories is campaigning to stop over-the-counter sales of weedkillers containing glyphosate -- notably Roundup, manufactured by Monsanto, which is widely available in garden centres, supermarkets and discount chains. Farms not Factories cites the World Health Organisation's finding that glyphosate is a probable human carcinogen. Find out more here.
Meanwhile, in the EU, glyphosate has been approved for use up to the end of 2017, and the Commission now proposes to renew the licence for a further 10 years, relying on a report by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) that says it is unlikely to cause cancer in humans.
But EFSA's report has in turn been criticised for lifting passages verbatim from Monsanto's own documentation. Greenpeace's European unit, which is campaigning against re-licensing, said, 'Whether this is a question of negligence or intent, it is completely unacceptable for government bodies to pass off industry analysis as their own. It calls into question the entire EU pesticide approval process.' Read more here.
The Sustain alliance campaigns for greener, fairer and healthier food systems for everyone. Find out more about our activities and join us here.
Published Friday 22 September 2017
Sustain: Sustain The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture and promote equity.
